Episode 13 - Solidaridad y Dignidad Para Chile

WARNING: this episode contains descriptions of police violence.

Our comrade and YDSA liaison Ace stops by the studio to talk about her experiences in Chile during the mass protests against President Sebastián Piñera and his increasingly unpopular administration. The protests began in Chile's capital, Santiago, as a coordinated fare evasion campaign by students which led to spontaneous takeovers of the city's main train stations, resulting in violent, punitive actions by the national police.

Since October/November of 2019, the protests have escalated and expanded across the country. Protestors have cited a wide variety of reasons for their actions such as economic inequality, political corruption, and the need for reforms in education, healthcare, and pension systems.

Ace shares what it was like to stay with a host family who were members of the local Communist Party, how the protests ramped up very quickly, and stories about activists and revolutionaries she met on the front lines. Towards the end of the interview, we share some thoughts about what real, material gains for the working class in Chile might look like.

Solidarity and dignity for the people of Chile!